Ellens Real media-research

Ellen Bowers Media Studies

Real Media Research

Trailers

Carrie Movie Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-VcPDkTySQ

The chosen movie trailer is that of the horror genre, released in 2013 it hold many conventions of a horror movie trailer. The film itself is a remake of a horror film first released in 1976 (first based upon a book written by Stephan King). The first convention this movie trailer follows is the use of written words within the trailer in order to give a form of narration to the plotline.

This is something that is found in many horror movie trailers in order to narrate the story but also to give the atmosphere that the audience knows something that the characters within the trailer do not, creating a feeling of hopelessness between the characters and the audience. I personally do not like this convention, I believe it tells the audience too

much about the plot line and gives the audience opinions instead of allowing the audience to have their own opinions about certain characters and events and what they represent within the plot line.

The next convention found within this horror movie trailer is the music played; usually music found in horror movies is very similar, it is found disturbing by the audience and tells them what to feel about a certain character of moment in the clip.

In this section of the trailer we see a woman - who we presume to be the mother – singing a low paced yet eerie tune. This allows the audience to have a set tone for the movie, suggesting that the movie will hold this atmosphere throughout. Alerting the audience that this, if not known before, is a horror movie. I personally enjoy this convention as it allows the pace of the

movie to predicted which allows myself to select movies that I will enjoy as sometimes the speed of which events happen ca effect my personal liking or disliking of a film, using the music within the trailer as a prediction I can tell immediately whether this is a movie I will or will not see.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-VcPDkTySQ


Another convention found within the Carrie trailer is the use of the supernatural as a base for the storyline.

In this section of the trailer we see the character Carrie destroy a light by simply screaming. This highlights us to the fact that the storyline of this movie will be surrounding Carrie and her link to supernatural powers. On the other hand the convention although is present in the trailer, it is positions approximately a quarter way through the clip. This is unusual for horror genre trailers as

usually supernatural storylines are introduced at the beginning of the trailer, however this may be explained or understood as the movie is a remake of a previous popular film and book and therefore many people watching the trailer will be aware of the storyline. I enjoy his convention as I believe it allows the movie to expand in its possibilities as the supernatural holds no boundaries and therefore the movie can utilise this, on the other hand the involvement of supernatural can become predicated after a few movies so it must be done well in order for it to be enjoyed.

The use of religion is also a convention found in many horror movies that is found in Carrie. We are introduced to this mid-way through the trailer in the form of the mother character.

We see the character praying to God signifying the religious element that will be included within the movie, this is a conventions found in many horror movies but in particular ones with an element of the supernatural as these two conventions usually go hand in hand with one another. I do not like this convention as it poses stereotypes on characters which make the plot line predictable, however this

convention in some movies is used well therefore I would not, not go see a movie simply because this convention is included within it.

Sound bridge is the next convention found in the trailer, many horror movie trailers include this to frighten the audience and build up tension.


As the majority of film trailers are designed to be shown in a cinema, the use of a black screen with sound bridge is used commonly, especially when there is a supernatural element involved, as this created fear once more in the audience and although they wish not to continue watching the trailer they are intrigued to see what can be revealed as the plot continues. However the use of sound bridge is usually spoken or used by the vulnerable character the protagonist; in

this case however it is the mother who uses the sound bridge. This confuses the audiences as throughout the trailer there are mixed messages of whether the mother character represents a help or a hindrance to the main character Carrie. The use of this convention suggests to the character will play both roles within the movie. I do like this convention however once again it is used by many horror film makers, which makes the use of it predicatable.

The final convention analysed within this trailer is the final title, this convention is used once again in many horror movie trailer but also within many trailers overall. It allows a sense of closure for the trailer and once again reminds the audience which trailer they are watching and that in order to discover more about the movie this must indeed go and watch it.

The use of this convention in the Carrie Trailer is to foreshadow that the film does not have a happy ending; the blood within her name holds the connotations that Carrie herself will cause damage and death along with destruction. I like this convention as it sets a final tone for the trailer and will be one of the main things you can recall about the trailer which means the

connotations of it will help you recall events of the trailer.

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The Wolf Of Wall Street trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC7bSzd-eQE

The first convention used that represents each genre that The Wolf of Wall street represents is Music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC7bSzd-eQE


Although based as a Drama comedy hybrid genre, there are very clear elements of the Biographical and crime genre.

The first Music introduction illustrates that the film would be fast pace, this is done by using a soundtrack based mostly on drums and using it over the top of a scene of New York city. Manhattan holds famous connation’s of fast paced life but it also holds connotations of crime. This allows the audience to use the setting of the movie to predict the type of events and characters that will included in the film. I like this convention as it does what is discussed above, as I generally know by the beginning of a trailer whether I will enjoy the entire film or not, the introduction of the setting and the music used is the main dictator on whether I will go to cinema to watch the film.

The next convention of this trailer is the introduction of the biographical element immediately.

We are straight away introduced to the main character in the form of a voice over, this represents that the film itself will be set out like this. This allows the audience to immediately attach to the voiceover as they are speaking directly to the audience assisting us in the narration of the events which we don’t yet understand. This allows the audience to feel

more informed than the character without the feeling of hopelessness which is common for most Drama films. I enjoy this convention as it allows me to understand the events from several different perspectives but also still allows me to hold me own interpretation of these said events.

A popular convention that is found in many Drama trailers is the use of a famous movie star.

In this case Leonardo DiCaprio is the main protagonist of this film, we immediately know this from the trailer as he is firstly the first characters introduced and secondly a widely popular actor within Hollywood and will therefore be the


main character. The actor is used in many trailers to set the tone of the film as many actors hold certain connation’s themselves. I like this convention as usually I chose which movies I wish to spend my money on not only by the plot line but by the actors, many times I have seen movies of plot line is didn’t predict to enjoy and simply went because I liked the actor. This is why this convention is so popular in many Drama trailers.

Fast pace editing is something that is used in the wolf of wall street trailer, this helps to represent the high pace and fats life that the main character ( Dicaprio) is living.

Although the shots themselves are clear in establishing that the main character has a large amount for success and wealth the fast pace editing allows us to see that this wealth was gained quickly and successfully, this allows the audience to want to watch the movie as it strays from many other Drama set films, what is meant by this is that many Drama films only show the

events that lead up to the wealth but this fast pace editing shows that we will not only see that but its aftermath. I personally like this as it sets the events of the movie apart from any other film intruding me further into wanting to watch this film in cinema.

Another convention that is used is the mention of not only the Actors but the Actors accomplishments in means for their awards.

The mention of awards suggests to the audience that the film itself will draw award winning attention and therefore will be very popular. Once the audience views the trailer as a film that many people will want to see it will make the audience wish to conform to see the film as well. I do not like this convention as it draws attention away from the characters and instead puts light on the actors


and when watching a trailer you do not want this to happen, you wish to be introduced to the film itself.

The slowing down of the pace to allow the genre of comedy to be introduced.

This is a very popular technique used in many comedy trailers, the slowing down of the pace and the lowering of the music in order to draw attention to a specific scene or piece of dialect. In this case Jonah Hill who is a very popular comedic actor is used in this scene to show in the trailer that the movie will hold comedic elements to it. I like this technique because it draws my attention to a specific

moment and helps me remember the event after the trailer is done.

The genre of Crime is also shown within the trailer by the use of violence.

This convention is used a lot in Drama trailers that involve wealth, as wealth often leads to crime in many movies and therefore holds connotations of crime. Fast pace editing is once again used to confuse the events so you can not necessarily understand the context of this violent crime but that you can understand that the movie holds it. This allows many audiences to be reached when watching the trailer and leads them to going to watch the film. I like this technique as I

can understand what will be involved when watching the film.

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Safe Haven Movie Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejQEdUwv0ew

The first convention that I have found is the main protagonist shown in some form of danger of stressful life situation.

In many Drama-Romance hybrid genres it is usual that the introduction to the main character is seeing them in some form of danger or distress that foreshows the events to come in the

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejQEdUwv0ew


story, as the camera shows a tracking shot this foreshadows that the character is being followed or more likely chased. More specifically it shows the vents that the main character most overcome to succeed. I do not like this convention as I believe it gives far too much information into the storyline, without watching the film you can predict the outcome.

The next convention used is the diegetic sound of Seagulls, this represents the arrival at the what can be assumed in the trailer as the ‘safe haven’.

As seagulls are usually thought of together with the sea, it can be argued that these birds we used to show the tranquillity and peace that this new place will offer the main character however how easily it can disappear by the connotations of birds. I like this technique because it allows the audience to understand the events that are happening in the trailer

without understanding too much of the plot. Allowing the audience to decide for themselves whether they will enjoy this full movie in the cinema.

The third convention that is used within the trailer is the use of a title screen that described the context of the film.

By showing that this film is written and similar to the films The notebook and dear john the audience can immediately tell what kind of film this is as anyone who knows about these films they are known to be about a relationship that goes through turmoil due to uncontrollable events. I like this technique because I can use my previous film experience to dictate whether or not I will like this film as I

know now that they will be in fact similar.

The next convention is the introduction of the love interest which will be the main storyline of the film.


The trailer follows this convention as many popular romantic drama’s do as my of the actors used in these films are famous or are known by many people. They will also help predict the storyline by their appearance and mannerisms without, once again, giving the story line away. On the other hand it is unusual for the love interest of the main character to be introduced later in the trailer as they are usually the main character also. For example Dear

John or the Notebook has two main characters whereas this trailer suggests that only the female in the protagonist of the story. I like this because it is a change of structure from previous films and therefore suggests that the storyline may not be as predictable.

The next conventions is props that is found in this trailer, although there are not many props known to be used in romantic dram’s there are few that are recognised among a few films.

The rowing boat is used in many romantic trailers as it has grown symbolic as something personal among the couple. This shows to the audience that the two characters show a connection and once again show to the audience that the romance between these two characters will be the main plot of the story. I do not like this convention as it has become a predictable part of romance films.

The final convention I will analyse is the inclusion of the dramatic event within the trailer.

This convention has become common among romance trailers with the addition of fast pace editing in order to stop the audience for understanding too much context, as if they understand too much of the plot they will see not point in going to the film. However this trailer goes against the convention a little bit as it shows far more than many romance trailers do especially when showing the final

events of the story. This is more apparent in thriller movies suggesting that this film may have an aspect of that genre within it.

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Into the storm trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVg8nKNGC5E


The first convention that I found within the trailer was the use of non-diegetic sound playing in the background of the screen in order to create a sound bridge.

In this thriller trailer however not only is there a non-diegetic sound bridge but there is also an instruction within the trailer to ‘listen’ to this sound. The sound is of what can be described as wind or better yet a storm which progresses into sirens symbolising dangerous and chaos that will ensue due to this noise without allowing us to see it with our own eyes yet. This tells the audience right away that this sound will be played throughout the film and will play a large role

in what the film itself is about. I like this convention as it tells us immediately what the film is about without wasting time but it does so by building the atmosphere meaning that the trailer does not give too much away immediately. The instruction on the screen intrigues you and therefore you wish to continue watching the trailer.

The next convention found is showing the aftermath of the vents that have taken place within the film rather than the events leading up to the event.

This is a common technique used in many thriller trailers as suspense is one of the main properties of a thriller, if the trailer includes all the events leading up to the main chaos then the suspense would be ruined instead the trailer simply illustrates the aftermath of the said event which allows a balance between informing the audience what the film is about and ensuring that the atmosphere of the film is kept intact. I like this technique because it allows me to see if I like the film or not and if

these kind of plot lines interest me without giving too much away so if I went to see the movie in cinema I would be surmised by these events.

Another convention of a thriller trailer is special effects,


However it is not to say that all thriller films have special effects because they do not but how thriller use special effects is a convention. Thriller trailers show the special effects as previously discussed as the aftermath of the built up tension. For example before we could see these hurricanes we heard them, this therefore builds up the tension and expectation of size and power. I like this convention as it allows the audience to already fear what they have yet to see; this not only creates

the atmosphere of fear but also of anticipation and excitement when one can finally see the source of the chaos.

The next convention is that the characters are introduced only after the problem is presents. This technique allows us to attach more to the situation which in this example is the hurricanes more than you attach the characters themselves. This technique Is used normally in only thriller movies, it allows the trailers to stand out from others and draw the attention from specific audiences. I like this

because it shows that the movie has a solid plot light that progresses instead of just character progression.

The final convention that I will analyse is the use of a recognisable actor or actress of the genre as one of the main characters.

Sarah Wayne Callies is an actress that is known for her role on the walking dead, many people who enjoy watching the walking dead will find interest within this film. The use of this actress ill draw the attention of that audience towards the film allowing them to associate the actress with both media pieces. I like this technique as it is normally easy to tell what kind of film the film will be by looking at the characters

that can be found in the trailer.


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Tammy trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8d6Bpl2eAo

The first convention that is found is the use of the introduction music.

As we hear the music before we see the character we informed that the music not only illustrates the main character and her or his behaviour but the tone of the film itself and the light-heartedness tone that will remain throughout. This is a technique that many comedy genre films use and appears very successful. The song used acts as a parody to the main character as we are introduced to her we see that she is the parallel to the implications of the song illustrating

immediate humour to the audience watching the trailer.

The second convention is the use of Medium shots in order to display the characters expressions and their appearance without giving away too much of the vents that are taking place

By using this shot as apart of the trailer we are able to see the character but not the events, this stops the audience guessing everything that surrounds the main character and instead just enjoying the comedy that surrounds it. I like this technique because it makes the trailer easy to watch and you can understand the main character without having to pay too much attention to the

fine details which shows a positive sign for a light hearted comedy film.

The third convention that appears in the trailer is the use of the famous actress.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8d6Bpl2eAo


This is popular across all genres which includes of course the comedy genre. However this actress in particular Melissa McCarthy is very well known as a comedy actress and has become very successful across the world but especially in Hollywood despite the fact that she goes against the conventions of Hollywood. Therefore when she is seen in a trailer the audience

immediately know that the film will break many rules and conventions and will naturally be successful simply because of her involvement.

The next convention in the trailer is character equality shown by levels and two shots.

Comedy films are well known for not having too many serious plotlines unless the comedy is a dark comedy. As this film is not, it is usually known that there are no serious character levels within a film, everyone generally remains equal to each other in order for the comedy to work, by showing this in the trailer it shows that the film will follow these conventions and will not stray away from them. I like this because you can simply appreciate the comedy of the film and

you don’t have to spend much energy reading too much into the actions and behaviour of the characters in relations to their growth as a characters which you do in for example Drama’s.

Another convention is props that are used by the main character.

Many if not all props found in Comedy trailers are used as tools to create laughter. In this case the props used are used to signify that the main character has been robbing places while only using paper bags to hide her identity. The


props found in comedies are simple usually and can be found anywhere and by anyone. It creates a feeling for the audience of real life and allows them to relax while watching the film.

The final convention of this movie trailer is lighting .

In comedies natural lighting is used in order to create an atmosphere of realism which allows the audience to imagine these actions and behaviours within the film happen from day to day. It allows the film to have a safe atmosphere and holds the connotations of an easy going nature which is what many comedies have. I like this technique because the trailer does not feel artificial and I find it easier

to watch and pay attention. On the other hand it is dependent on the type of humour used to which type of lighting is used.

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Music Videos

Taylor Swift ‘shake it off’ Music Video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfWlot6h_JM

The music video chosen is of the genre of pop and contains many conventions that are usually found in music videos within this genre.

The first convention found within the music video is the use of long and mid shots in order to show the artist and her environment. As the environment in music video’s often change frequently it is common that these shots and consistent throughout the video.

Another common camera shot found in music videos is the use of a close up as it allows the artist to lip sync there song along with the music played. It is highly used by all genres but specifically Pop genre is well known for using this technique. I like this technique because although many music videos use this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfWlot6h_JM


technique they all use it in different settings and characters within their video therefore creating a separation between all mainstream videos.

Another convention found within pop genre music video’s is costume.

In all music video’s mise-en-scene is used however it is manipulated is different ways depending on the plot of the music video. In the case of this video we see Taylor Swift in many different attires, she is always surrounded by a group of people wearing the same clothing. This allows her to show the audience which group she is a part of which helps to represent the purpose of the song. I like this technique as it allows the audience to clearing understand the artists

interpretation of their own song while still allowing you to have your own interpretation as you watch the music video.

The next convention is the editing technique of jump cuts

Jump cuts are also a popular technique within music videos, as it allows the video to progress in context within the short time it is set. It also allows the progression of the song to match the video. I like this technique as when it is used well keeps the music video flowing well and also allows me to see a different meaning behind each verse.

The sudden scene change gives to audience something new to constantly watch keeping them listening and watching to the whole song and video, as the music video has the purpose of advertising the song it is important that the music video reflects the type of audience the artist wants to song to be listened to by.

Another convention is the use of colour to represent the tone of the song.

The colours used within a music video can usually predict the genre of the film easily and well, for example bright colours are usually found in many pop genre music videos whereas dark colours are


usually found in rock videos or indie videos. Usually the colours are a way of setting a tone to the song.

In this video we can tell by the colours that the music video is one of pop and the song itself is light hearted, and fun. This can be seen by the bright colours in the video. I like this technique because it immediately allows the audience to know what kind of song is being played.

The final convention is the use of dance within the music video.

Finally this is another very common thing found within pop genre music videos, however many other music videos such as rock and indie do not usually have this technique within. This tehcnique allows the pop genre to stick out form the crowd and attract the target audience of perhaps a younger crowd.

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Matthew Mayfield ‘Fire Escape’ music video

The first convention found in the indie music video is the use of close ups.

As many indie music videos feature a form of narrative the use of a close up allows the audience to see/ read the emotions on the face of the artist or characters within the music video. They are usually used throughout the video and allow them to lip sync the song. I like this technique as we are constantly drawn back to the source of the song and the video is not relevant.


The next convention found is the use of narrative throughout the music video.

The use of a narrative in an indie music video is to tell the context that the song was written in and allows the audience to understand more about the artist. It is a technique popular with all genres however it is usually used within the indie genre. I like this technique as it allows the music video to be different from others and stick out from the crowd.

Another convention is the use of a guest

star to be in the music video in order to promote it.

In this video Brittany Snow features within the video, this actress is very popular among the genre of pop as she has featured in the film ‘ pitch perfect’ and ‘hairspray’. The use for this technique is to attract a different audience into watching the video and therefore taking up an interest in the artist. This technique is popular across all genres. I like this convention as it allows the audience to have a connection with the video and the artist and take a chance on listening to new music they wouldn’t have previously.

The next convention is the use of slow cuts for editing in an indie music video.

The use of slow cut editing is used to show the pace of the music video. It allows the video to keep in time with the slow pace music and also the progressing narrative. This helps illustrate the mood of the video to the audience without taking away the atmosphere set by the music. I like this technique because it sets the atmosphere for the video.


The convention of mise-en-scene in regards to the setting of the music video is the next convention I will analyse.

Indie artists use the setting of their videos in order to set the atmosphere for their videos. Most indie videos are not as extravagant as pop genre videos and therefore need there setting to separate them from other indie videos. The use of colour also makes the video stand out as the video is set mainly in black and white and therefore enhances the use of the mise en scene within the video. I like

this technique because it fits well with the atmosphere of the video.

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Bon jovi livin on a prayer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDK9QqIzhwk

The first convention found in the rock music genre video is the use of live music performance.

The technique of inputting live performance as the music video of a rock song is so the atmosphere of the concert and the band is shown off the audience. As a music video is a work of promotion it promotes the audience and suggests to them that the band is worth seeing in concert. I like this technique as we can see how the band are live as some bands perform better than others and by watching the video we are

able to see whether the band in question is worth seeing live.

The second convention found in the video is the use of costume.

Many rock bands are known for a certain look dependant on their age of fame for example Bon Jovi rose to fame in the eighties and therefore are known to wear the attire that was popular at that time. Fr example leather jackets is a popular look in the band’s music videos. This

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDK9QqIzhwk


separates major bands from each other. I like this technique because if each band has a district look it is easier to tell them apart and become attached to a particular band.

The next convention found in this video is the camera work.

In rock videos there are many close ups of the band members face along with tracking shots, this is especially used when the video contains live footage which the example present does. It allows the audience to feel like they are there at the concert and see many different angles and perceptions of the concert. Mid shots are often used as well as a way to introduce the artists. I

like this technique as it adds a sense of difference to the video and separates the genre away from other ones.

Another convention found in this video is the use of editing.

The kind of editing used within this video is high paced as it allows many different kinds of shots that are discussed above to be used to create the atmosphere of a fast life which is the ideology of Rock and roll. This is a popular technique used in many rock video’s especially ones shot in the eighties which this one was. I like this technique as it shows the atmosphere clearly and allows you to feel as our living the lifestyle

of the band.

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Eminem ‘We made you’ music video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSdKmX2BH7o

The first convention found is the use of camera angles.

The close up introduces the artist to the audience making it clear that it is the artist that will be the feature of the video. They are also used to show power which is a popular thing in many hip hop music videos as they are usually very extravagant. The power is displayed as the artist takes up the majority of the screen


and therefore I shown as important and in charge. I like this technique as you are easily able to see what is happening in the music video and the purpose it has towards the audience.

The second convention is guest stars of other famous artists

The artist Eminem is in particular known for having the artist Dr. Dre in his videos as he helped the launch of his career. Many artists do this to show off there a list status within Hollywood, another way to

show wealth and power within the Video. It also provides comedy and a joint interest of both artists therefore helping with promotion. I like this because it helps to promote an artist and it also when used well can help the video rise in popularity.

The third convention is the mocking of other celebrities and lifestyles.

In this music video Eminem mocks many celebrities as these celebrities are being mocked within the song, the video keeps in time with the lyrics and as each celebrity is mentioned in the song they are mentioned in the video. This provides comedy for the video and therefore it is watched more by the audience which leads to the promotion of the song itself. I like this technique because it offers visual and audio context.

The next convention is fast pace editing within the video.

The editing in this video is fast pace due to the narrative that flows with the lyrics for example when Lindsey Lohan is mentioned in the song she is shown in the video. The use of fast pace editing is used a lot in hip hop music videos as it reflects to fast life that these celebrities live in but it also is slow enough to show the narrative clearing and allows them to interpret the video themselves.


Another convention is the use of costume.

Costume is used in order to show the narration of the music, in this case it is used predominantly for the sake of humour which is a main theme in the music and the music video. Costume normally in hip hop videos is used to display wealth and power however in this parody music video we see a different side. I like this because it steps away from the stereotype and allows the audience to see something different from the music videos for a change without stepping too far out of the genre itself.

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Documentary videos.

"The 16 Year Old Killer" Cyntoia's Story- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLyenhWOwg8

The first convention found in the documentary extract is the voice over

The voice over acts as a natural party within the documentary and is there simply to inform the audience about the events and happenings within the program, they aren’t supposed to be used in order to sway the opinion of the audience, simply to inform. The use of a voice over makes the documentary seem more professional; as the documentary is shown of BBC three it must remain informative and professional. I like this technique because it allows all

the events to be told without having bias, which means I am able to watch the events for myself and make judgement how I see fit.

The second convention is real life footage

The footage is used in order to clearly show the event allowing the audience not only to be informed by the voice over and experts but to see for themselves the evidence in order for them to make their own judgements. Real life footage however can sometimes be fabricated however if this is so they usually highlight this at the bottom of the screen. I like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLyenhWOwg8


as I am able to see for myself the evidence and not have to simply believe the information given as it could be bias.

The next convention is interviews with experts.

This technique is used to offer an opinion about the topic of the documentary in the form of someone educated and trusted however outside of the documentary, this allows the narration of the documentary to express views without being bias. Often they agree with the documentary topic however if the disagree the documentary often disproves them in some manner.

Another convention is the use of titles in order to introduce new places and new people

The use of these titles are a quick and simple way to convey information to the audience, they usually contain information about new people or places. They are often found also at the end of the documentary so summarise what had been learnt. I like this technique because it keep the audience up to date as the documentary progresses and remind them or key information that they are likely to forget.

The final convention is the use of a sound bridge.

The sound bridge used is to draw emphasis to voice of the person the documentary is about, this allows the audience to understand her issue


before you see her; this creates an atmosphere of anticipation. I like this because I creates a more serious tone to the documentary and helps it become more interesting as much of the editing within documentary is very simple and smooth. This creates a small change.

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Catfish season 3 episode 5 documentaries- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spmkZplq02U

The first convention in this documentary is the camera shots.

The two shot’s shown throughout the documentary show the equal status of the presenters as the documentary is participatory. The use of long shots and wide shots are also used throughout the documentary in order for the audience to be introduced to new people throughout the documentary and to meet new people. The range of shots allow the audience to see the documentary from clear angles and different perceptive. I like this because you are able to see

many peoples point of view throughout.

The second convention is the lighting of the documentary.

The purpose of this documentary is to expose and entertain, therefore as it has the purpose to expose there is a lot of natural light from natural footage. The natural light makes the documentary seem more professional and real, it allows the audience to perceive the events that are happening from a realistic standpoint as they do not appear to have been influenced. I like this because it makes the documentary feel for real and truthful simply because there is less about it

that is artificial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spmkZplq02U


The next convention is the real footage.

Real footage is present in most if not all documentaries; it allows the audience to see information that is unbias and allows them to create pinions themselves. As the documentary has the purpose of expose the real life footage allows the real footage event to be seen progressively, as this is a series of documentaries exposing what are called ‘catfish’ which are online relationships, the purpose is already clear however

each individual case is not, therefore the real footage by each separate documentary must be shown.

Another convention that is shown within the documentary is mise en scene costume.

The use of costume in this documentary is to enhance the realism of the piece, as the presenters and everyone within the documentary are wearing normal clothing (every day) the audience feels more in touch with the people in the show giving a more realistic view on the events that are happening within it. I like this because it makes it feel like the documentary isn’t set up and although it is used for entertainment purposes the basis of the story is in fact real.

Use of text and titles is another convention that is found within the documentary.

The text at the beginning and the end of the documentary summarises the events of the people within the show, they also show the aftermath of this documentary. As many documentaries are filmed several months before they are shown the aftermath of the documentary is normally not filmed therefore

the text used allows the audience to find out more information. I like this because the audience is kept up to date even after the filming is ended.


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Naked Science - Shark Attacks, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oDz-BHL1xI

The first convention found in the documentary is the use of non-diegetic sound

The non-diegetic sound in the form of music sets the atmosphere for the documentary as high pace and adrenaline filled. The fast pace music creates this before we even see the subject of this documentary, as the documentary is used to persuade the audience of something the atmosphere of the documentary will allow the producer to change the mind-set of the audience and therefore make

them agree with the topic at hand. I like this because it immediately informs the audience what they are watching has a particular goal in mind which is clear in the music played.

The next convention is experts.

Experts are used in this case in order to give evidence to the opinion of the documentary, in other words to confirm that the sharks are in fact deadly killers and nothing more. By using trusted and known experts the audience is willing to believe the information due to the fact that they know more about the topic than they do. I do not like this because it persuades the audience to believe something instead of allowing them to have all the information and then make their own opinion.

Another convention used popularly among documentaries with the purpose to persuade is real life footage edited in a sequence.

The footage within the documentary is taken from several clips, they are edited together into a sequence to prove a certain point told by the over voice or by an expert. This technique is very successful as it provides real life evidence for the point however as they are edited together you re only able to see one point of view. I do not like this because it once again gives you a bias view on what you are being shown and taught.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oDz-BHL1xI


Real life witnesses is also a convention used.

As the purpose to persuade the audience there must be enough substantial evidence to do so as the audience will to simply just believe the voice over, therefore seeing real life people they will increase their knowledge and belief or what they are being told. For example in this shark documentary there are victims that have been attacked by sharks, seeing this the audience begins to believe that sharks are in fact cold blooded kills. I like this because it gives the audience insight to the thoughts of the people who have really

been in the situation.

Bias over voice.

In many persuasive documentaries the voice over is found to be bias simply because of the purpose of the piece. If the voice over was in fact not bias then the audience may not follow the belief of the documentary therefore it is the job of the voice over to convince the audience of something specific. I do not like this because when watching a documentary you wish it to provide you with facts and not opinion.

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Education

Ellens Real media-research